Release Date: April 19,2012

Tulip fairies and elves set to descend on Pearl Street Mall

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The Pearl Street Mall’s 15,000 tulips spring to life for this much beloved tradition Saturday, April 28

[Boulder, CO] April 19, 2011 – On Saturday, April 28, pint-sized tulip fairies and elves are encouraged to head to Downtown Boulder and enjoy an afternoon of springtime celebrations. The annual Tulip Fairy and Elf Parade will kick off on the 1300 block of the Pearl Street Mall beginning at 3 p.m.

Participants are encouraged to arrive by 3 p.m. in order to enjoy pre-parade tunes courtesy of Jeff Kagan and Paige Doughty, along with face-painting, coloring and other children's activities. The parade will be led by Boulder's very own Tulip Fairy, accompanied by stilt-walkers from Frequent Flyers and tiny tulip fairies and elves (attendees). Following the parade will be a performance of Waking the Bear courtesy of Boulder’s Open Space & Mountain Parks.

Each spring Downtown Boulder, Inc. (DBI) enlists the help of the colorful Tulip Fairy in welcoming the tulips and encouraging them to grow to their fullest potential. With the help of hundreds of pint-sized fairies and elves, the Tulip Fairy leads the parade with much pomp and circumstance to the delight of parents, locals and visitors alike.

In the late 70s, Boulder’s then sister city, Meppel, Holland would send 5,000 tulip bulbs annually to be planted along the Pearl Street Mall. A form of this tradition continues to this day when every fall the City of Boulder’s Parks Department plants 15,000 brand new tulip bulbs that are directly imported from Holland. With a little TLC over the winter months, the tulips start to peek out of the ground around the middle of March. Because of the unseasonably warm temperatures this year, every block of the Pearl Street Mall is colorfully adorned by the biggest, brightest tulips imaginable. Prime viewing is right now!

“This is the not-to-be-missed photo op of the season,” said Anna Salim, DBI’s event director. “While the parade itself goes by quickly, it continues to be - by far - the most popular & colorful one in Boulder!”
The event is free and no pre-registration is required. The public can learn more at http://www.TulipFairyParade.com or call 303-449-3774. (Every Saturday and Sunday, City of Boulder parking garages are free. Public encouraged to park in the garage at 15th and Pearl streets.)

The Tulip Fairy and Elf Parade is supported by the Daily Camera & City of Boulder Parking Services and produced by Downtown Boulder, Inc.

About Downtown Boulder, Inc. (DBI)

Downtown Boulder, Incorporated (DBI) is a non-profit organization dedicated to continued preservation and enhancement of Downtown Boulder as the heart of the greater Boulder community. We work to maintain downtown as the center of commerce, government, culture, and leisure. DBI members support the overall vitality of downtown through public advocacy, political involvement, and community events that enhance the Boulder experience for residents and visitors. Membership in Downtown Boulder, Incorporated (DBI) is voluntary and open to any interested person or organization. (https://www.boulderdowntown.com)